The 2026 NFL season is finally here, and with games kicking off, the chatter for who’s gonna snag that MVP hardware is already hitting overdrive. Just last year, Matthew Stafford went from back issues to MVP, and Drake Maye pushed New England to the Super Bowl in his second year. Anything is possible, right? But the early money and nearly everyone on the CBS Sports panel are singing the same tune for the 2026 Most Valuable Player: Joe Burrow.
Burrow’s Crown to Lose: A Consensus Pick for 2026 MVP
Seriously, it’s a landslide. The odds from DraftKings have Joe Burrow sitting at a solid +850, making him a top contender, but the CBS Sports crew is practically unanimous. Tyler Sullivan, Bryan DeArdo, Jordan Dajani, Josh Edwards, and Ryan Wilson all went all-in on Burrow for MVP. Sullivan is “all in on the Bengals this season,” pointing to an easy schedule and a revamped defense, which he believes sets the stage for Burrow to “pile up wins.” He’s betting Burrow stays healthy and can “lead the NFL in passing touchdowns and passing yards.”
Wilson echoes the “stay healthy” mantra, noting Burrow’s nearly 5,000 passing yards and 43 touchdowns back in 2024. With an “much improved (read: average)” defense, Wilson sees “no reason this team won’t make a deep playoff push.” Edwards stresses that “talent and ability has never been the issue with Burrow.” He’s got a “talented receiver room,” Chase Brown has “emerged at running back,” and the offensive line is “better than league-wide expectations.” Dajani just flat out says Burrow “is going to light up the league and get the Bengals to the Super Bowl this year.” That’s some serious belief, folks!
The Lone Wolf and Other Big Names Who Could Crash the Party
While Burrow dominates the MVP conversation, a few other names are definitely in the mix, and one analyst is looking for a massive payout. Lamar Jackson sits pretty at +800, and Jared Dubin is taking that bet. Dubin argues Jackson “plays at an MVP level” whenever he stays healthy and likes his chances to “bounce back” under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Getting Jackson at 8-1 compared to Josh Allen’s 6-1 odds? That’s a move worth watching. Allen still leads the pack at +600, followed by Jackson, then Burrow, and then Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Drake Maye all tied at +1000.
But here’s the kicker, the true underdog pick that could blow everyone away: Pete Prisco is rolling the dice on Trevor Lawrence at a wild +2500! Prisco believes Lawrence’s offense will be “dynamic in his second season under Liam Coen,” predicting his numbers “will be impressive.” A 25-1 shot for MVP? That’s the kind of spicy take that makes you double-check the odds. With the season starting, every snap, every drive, and every win is gonna weigh heavy. Will Burrow live up to the hype, or will a longshot like Lawrence stun the league? We’re about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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